Seventeen fellowships with a total value of $46,654,655 over 5 years have been awarded by the Australian Research Council under the Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme for 2012.

The scheme is designed to attract world-class researchers and research leaders to key positions, and create new rewards and incentives for the application of their talents in Australia.

It includes a Kathleen Fitzpatrick Australian Laureate Fellowship awarded to a highly ranked female candidate from the humanities, arts and social science disciplines and a Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship awarded to a highly ranked female candidate from the science and technology disciplines. These recipients have been provided with additional funding to undertake an ambassadorial role to promote women in research.